Police in Torbay have issued a strong warning to 'killer clown' clones in the run-up to Halloween after an incident in Torquay on Wednesday night. Officers were called after a man in a scary clown costume took to the streets of Ellacombe in an effort to frighten passers-by.

Police searched the area but did not find the clown.

Now they say that people donning clown costumes to frighten people in the streets are risking a court appearance if they do.

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Sergeant Steve Shepherd said police would not hesitate to act if people are terrified by street clowns in the coming weeks.

Crazy clown holding an axe in his hands

The craze began several years ago, and there were claims that a Paignton student was the original 'scary clown', taking to the streets of Nottingham where he was studying at the university. His antics were posted all over social media, spawning hundreds of imitators.

Scary Horror Clown

Now the craze has begun again in the wake of the recent release of a new movie version of Stephen King's classic scary clown story It.

Sgt Shepherd said: "We have had our first report of the year, from somebody in Ellacombe, of a person dressed as a clown scaring passers-by.

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"It isn't funny for elderly people or young children, and it may be that the only clowning around they are doing is in the cells!"

Scary clown

He explained that scary clowning could be seen as a public order offence, and added: "If people are going out to cause alarm and distress, then they could be arrested and put before the next available court.